Hey everybody, how's all going? Anyway, here's the second chapter of The Forgotten.

Sadly, I don't have much time to write so expect slow updates and with a month or even more between chapters. I don't have all the time I'd like to write but rest assured, I write all I can when I can. How I wish for holidays to arrive…

Also, I wish to thank you all for the favorite emails and story alerts. Hope you all like the second.

Again, if you see any grammatical mistakes, feel free to let me know and I'll fix it. I checked the chapter but I don't know if I missed some.

Disclaimer: Someday, the rights we'll be mine, someday… For now all I have to do is lie down and don't attract attention and- *THERE HE IS!* … Shit.

"Talking."

'Thinking'

"Higher beings/demons talking"

'Higher beings/demons thinking'

[24/03/2013]: Edited and revised. Changed minor details in descriptions and conversations.

[24/01/14]: As promised, a major editing of this chapter, close to a rewriting of several parts. Two whole new scenes added, along with new content here and there. Warning: major swearing and sexual references in one scene. You have been warned.

Chapter One

Awakening

A shuddering breath was released from his mouth as the sound of rattling chains echoed around. How long had it been since the last time he'd managed to get a hold of his wavering consciousness? It came and went periodically but it slipped away from him almost every time he tried to grasp it. Keeping awake had gotten to the point of becoming a titanic task, one he wasn't sure he could try much longer.

At some points when he was awake, he couldn't keep the cynical tone out of the thought that his trademark luck had ran out long ago.

How long had it been since the first day in this hell in life, after all? The first day, the first hour, the first minute... How could he count them when time itself was meaningless in his prison? A prison without bars yet chained like a rabid dog.

He blinked, trying to focus his sight through the bleariness. He sighed when his bindings held strong as he tried to break them and he couldn't keep down a laugh tinted with desperation. They had held for centuries, why would they fail now? He idly wondered how many times he had tried already but soon realized it was a foolish question. There were too many to count.

However, unknown to him, not everyone in the Universe was unsympathetic to his plight. A sudden pulling sensation speared him. It felt as if hooks had taken a hold of his very essence and were trying to pull him towards… somewhere. The anomaly was violent in its actions, with clearly no finesse, but it was clearly accomplishing its objective.

Finding the pain too much to stay hold onto his already wavering consciousness, he soon blacked out.

xxOOOOxx

Neria Surana didn't know what to think when they spotted for the first time Ostagar, the fortress which signaled the border of ancient Tevinter Imperium into barbarian lands. Well, the Tower of Ishal, named after the great Archon who ordered its construction, was the only building in Ostagar that was still mostly intact… somewhat.

Truthfully, she was a little surprised. She knew buildings outside the Tower of Magi were big, but not that big. Sure, the Tower was pretty big but nothing compared to the Tower of Ishal. It dwarfed her former home! Duncan chuckled when he saw her eyes go out from her sockets, totally astonished by the sight.

"I'll take you haven't seen many buildings, Neria. You shouldn't think too much of it, Archons were known for their egos." He said, clearly amused by her reaction. Her head snapped at him giving him sheepish smile but her face darkened almost instantly, remembering the Circle and all the recent bad memories from that place.

His eyes softened at seeing that look. He remembered himself looking much like her, with the same scared look, when Warden-Commander Genevieve saved him in Val Royeaux. He was just moments away from being executed for the murder of a Warden, who was…

Duncan ruthlessly crushed those thoughts. She had passed long ago. She was now with her loved one and it didn't matter anymore. He still felt guilt though, even after he and Commander Genevieve sorted things out.

"Neria… do you want to talk about it?" He offered gently. He knew it was not a good idea to bottle such things as they tended to eat you from inside. She gave him a surprised glance, clearly not used to the gentle treatment and hesitated.

"I… It's just… I hated the time I was in the Tower. The templars were watching us all the time with those stares, as if waiting for us to become abominations in any moment. It was a cage in all but name. A cage with golden bars sure, but a cage nonetheless. It… makes me shiver every time I think about it. It has been almost two weeks and I still have nightmares about them. You just can't understand it, Duncan, you are not a mage. That fear… the fear to have the templars watching you everywhere you go, in every moment, waiting for the simplest hint to pound in. It… puts you on edge." Neria let out a tired sigh.

"All of us mages are looked down or outright feared because of what we are and I hate it. Yes, it's true that some mages are power hungry, like some bloodmages. But we are not all like them! The concept behind the Circle is right, is the way it's applied what's wrong!" She argued heatedly. To Duncan, it was clearly a sour topic to her.

"I will not dare to make assumptions, as your knowledge about the Circle and its troubles surpass far beyond my own. But if I had say in it, I'd say the manners of the Chantry are indeed quite… harmful to others regarding some topics. But surely your fellow mages would help you. You know, helping others out and all that." He said, choosing very carefully his words.

Neria smirked bitterly, mildly amused. "Duncan, you could pass as a politician, with your way with words, you know," she commented. "Sadly, I'm an elf or, as they call me, a flat-ear." The hurt look in her sea-green eyes told him what she thought of that. Duncan sighed; he couldn't help but feel bad for the elves. They had lost almost everything from the time of Arlathan and even then, most Dalish elves treated harshly the city elves, looking down on them just because they had submitted to the shemlen, "quick children" as they derisively called humans. But he refocused on the conversation as Neria was still talking.

"-but even between fellow mages old habits die hard and some human mages weren't much kind with elves. Those thought themselves superior to the elven mages. Imagine the combination: an elf and a mage. Great, isn't it? Being the two things at the same thing is the biggest curse in Thedas because of the humans' racism towards us… But I told myself long ago that I would not shrink and cover in fear. I'm proud of what I am. I will not give them the pleasure to make me submit." She stated, crossing her arms and with a fierce look in her eyes. "However, I won't deny that in the Tower there were people who respected me and thankfully, those who looked down on us for being elves were less than expected. So, even if they were harmful, it was not as bad as it sounds."

"Then, there were good things in the Circle, am I right?" He asked while smiling inwardly at her confidence. He had definitely done the right choice recruiting her. He was sure she would blossom greatly in the order. That's it, if she passed the Joining, but he had a hunch that she would and he couldn't wait to nurture her potential into something great. It was always a very rewarding experience teaching others your craft.

The moment he asked, Duncan knew it was the right question to make. Her eyes shone with happiness as she remembered good old times. "Yes… Yes, there were. I had my best three friends there. All of them were humans, which is surprising, as you might think. Their names were Anders, Cullen and Jowan… who you had the misfortune to meet." She faltered a bit when she mouthed the last name and Duncan supposed that Jowan would be most likely that bloodmage that caused that big mess in the Circle when he was there, which he had to drag Neria from. Quite forcefully, he might add.

"How were they like?" He asked, truly interested. They had time, anyway.

Neria laughed, very amused with her memories. "How were they like? Well… Anders had come to the Circle when he was twelve years old or so, from the Anderfels. He was already very old to the standards of the templars, as mages are usually brought to the Tower at the age of four or five. Because of this, he had a clear image of his family, clear memories of them and he hated the templars with passion since the moment they took him from them. And his hate and distaste for templars only grew as time passed. He would always confront the templars and he tried several times to leave the Circle. Just a couple of days before your arrival, he'd fled again. He never tried to take me with him though. He knew a live on the run was not for me, especially for an elf. More even so, for a female elf." She remarked the 'female' part and Duncan nodded comprehensively. Feeling caged had to be a terrible thing and he knew as well what she was referring to with the last part. A shameful act to do for any man.

"And well, he was a bit of the flirting type too, but it was always good-naturedly. It was amusing, to say the truth and I never could get mad at him, no matter how much he did it. Of them, he was the one I was most fond of. I can't remember a time when he hadn't a joke ready.

"Then we have Cullen. He was a templar... Hey, don't give me that look! I know it's a contradiction, but he was… different from them. He was nice… and kind… a bit of stuttering, though it was worth it if that was the price for his kindness. He was totally different from others templars. They simply felt like…unfeeling cold machines, zealots to the cause. Cullen felt like a normal person… Mmm, now that I think about it, he always stuttered when I was near… I wonder why…" Duncan just hid a smirk from her at that. It seemed that Neria was a little clueless about love matters.

"And finally, we have Jowan… he was the first to be my friend, actually. Before meeting Anders a few months later, we could always be seen together. He was a good friend to be with, albeit a bit clumsy at magic. I know he has potential but magic was hard for him to learn." She mused out loud. Her face became more distant, lost in her memories. "But it doesn't matter anymore, so no point in thinking about it…" She muttered regretfully.

Duncan placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know you feel guilty for betraying him by telling Irving about his plan. But he didn't tell you he was a bloodmage, so you two are more or less on equal terms… Who knows, perhaps your paths will cross again at some point."

Hearing those words, Neria actually smiled. "Thanks Duncan, you're really a good man." She praised with a slight nod of acknowledgment. Said man chuckled and nodded at her in return.

"And well, what else… As much as it pains me to admit it, a few months ago we had already started growing apart because I progressed in my magic while he was stuck, left behind. Maybe that was when he started meddling with bloodmagic…" Neria trailed off.

They stayed in a comfortable silence until Duncan broke it, looking at her.

"So, tell me, what do you think of Ferelden so far?" He asked with genuine curiosity, making her head tilt, deep in thought.

"Well, it's… nice, I guess. The wilderness is enjoyable, a most welcome change after the cold stones of the Tower. And the rain! I had never seen rain before… Feeling it on my skin makes me feel truly alive." She said with a broad smile, letting out a carefree smile. "I had seen maps of Ferelden before, but they don't make the country justice. So many places to see… Ferelden it's quite big, but I suppose that without horses it has to be. A pity I will not be able to explore Ferelden more though. I'm sure there are so many things to know and discover…" She spaced out, dreamily but furrowed her nose. "It smells of wet dog, though."

Duncan chuckled softly. He was sure that was the effect of reading so many books in the Circle. The marvelous things that magic could do fueled the desire to see more wonderful things, ancient secrets. It was a saddening sight to see mages so unappreciated. 'They fear the unknown, the uncertainty of it…Instead of helping them through their burdens, they deny and spit on them.' Duncan thought with a small sigh. 'If only, people didn't fear them, they'd be able to see a tool that could make their lives a bit easier.'

"Do not worry, child. I'm sure you will travel to many places being Grey Warden. You'll just have to wait to pass your Joining." He assured and Neria nodded at him.

They traveled in silence until Duncan spoke again. "Well child, I think it'll be better if we hurry our pace. Come, it's time we got to Ostagar."

xxOOOOxx

One hour later, they finally reached the gates where Neria noticed something shining brightly close to them. Trying to catch a better look; she realized it was a man in armor, which was the shining thing that attracted her attention .

"Ho, Duncan!" He welcomed the older man with a friendly wave while Neria scrutinized him. He had blond hair and a faint childish look on his face. It wasn't as if he looked as a child physically. It was more the… twinkle in his eyes when he smiled, like a child when he received a gift from his parents. He wore a complete golden armor and Neria wondered if the blacksmith that made the armor wanted the wielder to stand out. Maker's breath, she was sure his breastplate could light the other part of Ferelden!

Neria mentally chuckled at the admittedly stupid joke but refocused on the conversation. It wouldn't be polite to stare at the space if someone talked to her.

"… a royal welcome?" The man, now known as the king, chuckled. He had a carefree laugh, she absently noticed. "Don't worry, we have time and I wanted to get out of Loghain's tent before he kills me with strategies." He joked, smiling. "I was beginning to worry you'd miss all the fun."

"Not if I could help it, your Majesty." Duncan smiled back at him. It was obvious they were pretty good friends.

"Then, I'll have the mighty Duncan at my side in the battle, after all. Glorious!" He beamed with shining eyes and turned to him. "The others Wardens told me you'd found a promising recruit. I take it this is she?" He asked, looking curiously at Neria.

Duncan nodded. "Allow me to introduce you, your Majesty."

"No need for formalities, Duncan. We'll be shedding blood together after all. Ho there, friend. May I know your name?" The king asked.

Neria blinked. The king wanted to know her name. She was no friend of him, of course. But it would be highly disrespectful of her not to answer him. Even if he was human and she, elf, she couldn't disrespect the man who could easily order to behead her. And that would be definitely not nice…

"I am Neria, your Majesty."

"Oh, come on, no need to be so formal, as I've told Duncan right now!" He laughed. "Anyway, allow me, to be the first to welcome you to Ostagar, Warden. I'm sure you'll love to be part of such prestigious order! I sure wish I could join! Well, it'll be better if we get back soon to the camp. We've won three battles against them and today should be no different."

Neria arched a thin eyebrow. "You sound very confident of that."

"Overconfident some would say, right Duncan?" He replied with a chuckle at Duncan, who chose his words carefully to reply him.

"Your Majesty, I'm not certain the Blight can be ended as quite… quickly as you might want."

Cailan turned his back to them to stare at the camp, which was buzzing with activity. "I'm not even sure if this is a true Blight, anyway! There's plenty of darkspawn on the battlefield, but alas, we've seen no sign of an archdemon." The king silently huffed with slight annoyance but Duncan noticed it.

"Disappointed, your Majesty?" Duncan asked with a soft voice.

"I'd hoped for a war like in the tales! A king riding with the fabled Grey Wardens against a tainted god! To banish it to its horrendous lair and then kill it! To be laid down in History books for all to remember!" He had a slight frown on his face and then he sighed. "But I suppose this will have to do... Now, I must go before Loghain sends out search parties… Farewell, Duncan, Neria. I hope we can talk later." He turned back and went back to the camp with his two guards. Duncan and Neria watched as he entered in it and then the older man turned to her.

"So, what's your first impression about King Cailan?" Duncan asked her. Neria didn't look too eager to respond. After all, what you said about the King or the Teyrnirs or… well, about every important people, could cause you… unhealthy problems, if someone overhead you. She bit her bottom lip.

"Well, he seems… nice… Is he always so…?" She trailed off, without knowing what word pick.

"Happy and confident?" Duncan helped.

"Mm… yes, that." Neria nodded. 'Though I'd have said reckless and overconfident…'

Duncan chuckled but quickly adopted a worried demeanor. "Indeed, I have to agree with you. Cailan's a good man, a friend and one of the few Grey Wardens' allies in these dark times, but I fear he's greatly underestimating the darkspawn threat. Yes, we've defeated them in a few battles, but the horde grows larger with each passing day. By now, they look to outnumber us."

"It sounds bad, then." Neria answered with a small frown.

"Hopefully, the archdemon won't be here… yet. But enough of worries, you have to pass your Joining without more delay. There's another Grey Warden near here, in this part of the camp. A junior, his name's Alistair. When you're ready, seek him out. Then, come to the stake near the King's tent. All the others Wardens are already down in the battlefield but I'll be over there."

"Alright, Duncan."

"Good. Talk with the others, Neria. Learn as much as you can when you're here. You should check out the tranquil in the camp as well. Perhaps there is something from the mages that you can borrow. If you have money, don't forget to visit the armory. You never know what you can find." He advised her.

Frowning, Neria huffed, annoyed. "You know, I can take care of myself, Duncan. I may be small, compared to you humans, but I'm not a child." She answered crossing her arms but the only answer she got from Duncan was an amused laugh.

"But a child you are, dear." He chuckled again. "Anyway, go and socialize." He finished the conversation, walking calmly by the bridge. Neria stayed a few seconds looking at his back till she began to walk as well to the camp.

xxOOOOxx

They came out form the Korcari Wilds bruised and covered in blood, but otherwise unharmed. Neria turned to thank Morrigan, the strange young woman they'd encountered earlier in the wilderness, for her help but she had already vanished. The elven mage shrugged and entered into the camp with Alistair and the other two Grey Wardens recruits, Daveth and Ser Jory.

Daveth seemed fine if a bit of a flirt but she was okay with that, as long as it stayed in just that, flirting. His flirting made her a little uncomfortable, since there wasn't an ounce of friendship in it, like Anders' teasing and flirting had been.

But Ser Jory was a whole story by himself. She almost growled. Ser? Ser, her ass! He whined and complained every moment for whatever reason he had. Darkspwan, wild witches, chasind… The others were on their nerves as well and they wondered if they could kill him and leave him in the wilds. Sadly, they came to the conclusion that Duncan would notice it, so they had to suffer through it.

Neria had gotten around examining the tranquil site, after all. She had asked the tranquil if there was something for her –or the others mages- in the mage's chest. Without blinking and with a droning voice, he had handed her a staff made of iron. It wasn't obviously the best staff in the world, but it was still a staff. She had taken a few lyrium potions as well, just in case. Then, curious about his plight, she had talked to the kennel's caretaker.

Neria smiled. It was a stroke of luck they had found the plant he had asked her for him to be able to cure that poisoned mabari. She turned to look at the men that were following her.

"Hey guys, I'll split off a moment to deliver the plant. Go ahead to meet Duncan, I'll go in a moment." They nodded and Neria jogged to the kennels, where the caretaker was watching worriedly over the mabari. She tapped his shoulder to catch his attention.

"Mm, yeah? What can I do for…? Oh, it's you! Tell me, did you found the plant?" He asked with hope in his voice.

Neria smiled and nodded, handing him the plant. "Yes, I did. Here, take it."

The kennel's caretaker smiled thankfully. "Great! Now I can make a remedy for him! I don't know if it'll be one hundred per cent effective, but now he'll have a big chance to make it. Thanks! You might come after the battle. Perhaps he may want to go with you as his new master. These mabaris sure are intelligent fellows; I wouldn't be surprised if he recognized you as the one who helped him out."

Neria turned to look at the mabari, who now was resting more comfortably on the straw and watching her with an inquisitive look. Perhaps it would be a good idea… After all, mabari were well known as war hounds and their higher than normal intelligence, so why not? She could always use him as a way to drive Alistair nuts, anyway. Neria chuckled at that thought.

"Sure, I'll drop by after the battle. Anyway, I have to go. Duncan must be waiting for me. See you!" Neria parted away after saying her goodbyes, moving towards the stake Duncan had mentioned. She saw them talking and saw Alistar giving Duncan the three vials of darkspawn blood needed for the Joining along with the treaties. She then arrived and positioned herself next to Alistair.

"Hello, Neria. What delayed you?"

"Well, the kennel's caretaker told me about a plant essential to cure the mabaris from the darkspawns' taint. We found one in the Korcari Wilds, so I went to deliver it to him."

Duncan nodded gravely. "The taint from the darkspawn is truly a dangerous thing. We have to manipulate it carefully, as we can't allow it to corrupt us. In any case, I will start the required preparations for the ritual. We need to set the preparation for the Joining. And Alistair, don't worry so much. I know it's most likely that Morrigan and her mother, this… Flemeth, are apostates. But we can't assume they're bloodmages without proof. Besides, it is not our duty to hunt them down. We are not templars. Ours is a grimmer and long-lasting duty and they certainly wouldn't be refused, should they be considered potential recruits. "

Duncan didn't stay much longer and left after saying that he had to set up the ritual for the Joining. He also told them to come to the abandoned tower when they were ready. Afterwards, they parted ways and Neria went to meet the merchant as she had to sell some things they had found in the wilds. She sold all the weapons and other stuff they looted from the darkspawn. The mage elf thought it was a disgusting thing, but she knew it was a necessary if she ever wanted to gain a considerable amount of coin.

However, she gained enough money from the sales to buy a small bag to carry more objects.

She soon walked away from his stand and pondered what to do. Soon, night would fall but there still was some time left before complete nightfall. Therefore, Neria decided to wander a bit, with no real purpose. However, that soon would prove to be a mistake.

Wandering into a more secluded spot, she stumbled into a group of men making a light warm up before the battle began. Neria really didn't have a reason to talk to them so she quickly turned on her heels to leave when a shout from one of the man stopped them.

"You, elf! Bring us some water instead of strolling around like some useless wench!" The man had a cocky, disgusting voice and Neria whirled to give him a piece of mind, masking as best as she could the fear she felt.

"Call me that again and I'll show you just how dangerous a mage can be." She threatened but her threat fell on deaf ears as the man narrowed his eyes with h contempt.

"You fucking knife-ear bitch! Mage or not, I'll show your place, you fucking slut!" He hissed as he made his way over to her.

Striding back, Neria's hand flew to her staff; ready to show the sorry excuse of a man in front of her just why you just don't piss off a mage. However, her efforts were cut short when a pair of strong arms snaked under her armpits and grabbed her in a lock from behind, effectively nullifying her arms and making her unable to reach her staff.

"Ah, ah, ah," the man… no, the beast, mocked. "No magic weapons allowed. That wouldn't be fair, don'tcha think?"

She was trapped.

The man finally stopped in front of her with a sinister grin, giving Neria a show of his crooked teeth with the way he grinned. She had to consciously suppress the shiver they gave her. His grin did not bode anything good.

"What you say guys? Ready to show this bitch her place?"

"Hell yeah, Martin! I can't wait to see if she can ride a cock as good as she's at dishing out threats!" One of the men laughed perversely and Neria froze in shock.

Were they going to rape her? This couldn't be happening to her…

But despite the cold fear of being raped every woman had in her, she wasn't Irving's apprentice just for her good looks.

She was trapped.

Yet powerless, she was not. Fear did not have hold over her.

With a snarl, she kicked the man with crooked teeth in the balls. Hard. Not expecting any kind of retaliation from what he saw as scum, he went down howling in agony, as he wasn't wearing his armor. Anders had taught her the best way to take advantage from a man's weakness and she applied his lesson as best as she could.

'If a guy tries to do… well, that, and you don't have your staff with you to shove a lightning bolt up their asses, do this. Trust me, you won't regret it'

Quick as lightning she smashed her head as hard as she could against the face of the man holding her arms. Crying out in pain, he lost his hold on her, allowing Neria to slip away from him.

However, now there were three pissed off soldiers against her, though the other one was too busy nursing his jewels, moaning in pain, to be any kind of a threat. It still didn't help her current situation.

"You bitch, I'm gonna make you pay for this, you piece of shit!" raged the one who'd been holding her, one hand trying to stop the flow of blood from his nose.

Before Neria could say something though, another presence made itself known. "I sincerely doubt that, though you are welcome to try, of course."

As expected, Neria and the others looked to the side, their attention caught by the voice.

There were two of them, several years older than her by the looks of it. They both had black hair and were fairly tall, taller than an average human, though not by a wide margin, either. Their expressions were as different as day and night were from each other. One of them, the taller one, had a scowl on his face, looking at the other one with annoyance. He carried a black great sword strapped to his back.

The other had a smirk on his face, walking towards the group with a confident stride. He moved swiftly and Neria could see for a moment the pommels of four daggers, two strapped to his back and two near his tailbone zone. Contrary to his companion, he sported a full beard, making him look older than he really was..

"Who are you, brat? Get out of here less I pummel you to the ground." A scarred man threatened.

"Tsk, tsk, didn't your mother teach you manners? That's no way to treat a lady, you know." The man chided him with a mocking smile, wiggling a finger at the scarred man.

"Why you….!" The soldier went to grab his sword but one of his companions stopped him before he could do anything.

"We have no quarrel with you two. Leave now, we have something to discuss with this knif… I mean, this elf here."

"Oh, do you now? Funny, I could've sworn you were going to… ah, how did your buddy put it, ah yes, make her pay." He mused sardonically.

"And why would you care, pretty boy? She's just a worthless elf." The third soldier grumbled, spitting on the ground but the dagger-user just laughed truly amused.

"Really now, you don't know who she is? She's Duncan's newest recruit, so it's pretty likely she'll become a Grey Warden. The King won't be happy that some men from camp tried to get their way with her. It makes one wonder if their stupidity is learnt or passed from father to son, doesn't it, brother?" He rhetorically asked to the taller man, who merely muttered something about leaving him out of his messes.

The three soldiers paled considerably when they heard about Neria's status. Cailan's fondness for epic tales and glory –and thus, Grey Wardens- was well known throughout Ferelden and his ire would be much severe if he learnt of the incident. Neria for her part was amazed that their arrogant, cocky looks were replaced by ones of utter fear. It was a complete change of behavior and it totally blew her mind. Surely Cailan's obsession with the Grey Wardens wasn't that big, right?

However, her musings were cut short when the soldiers grabbed the still moaning soldier from the floor, gave her hasty apologies and ran the hell out of the clear, not even bothering to maintain a modicum of composure.

"Wow, chickens the lot of them. Things like these make me lose faith in mankind… Then again, it comes back with a good tankard of ale." The dagger-used muttered to himself, not even reacting to his brother's annoyed sigh.

"Seriously, do we have to get into all kinds of trouble just because you want to 'explore the zone'?"

"Ah, but brother, exploring is just half the fun. Don't tell me you don't love the thrill of an adventure?" Said man just snorted, half annoyed and half amused at his words. "Besides, the good guys always came at the last moment to save the day! It makes it all just more epic."

"That's just because no one has heard you snore. That is, except me." His older brother remarked dryly. "After that, no one can look at you and think of you as epic."

"Such hurtful words, Carver! If I didn't know you better, I'd say you… shit, I forgot what I was going to say."

"Clearly."

"… Moving on…" Carver's brother moved his gaze to her and gave her an easy grin. "Hey there, quite the pinch you were in, huh?"

"… I guess so. Thanks for the help."

"No need, my dear friend. That's what the good guy does, after all!" He excitedly said as he expertly started twirling one of his daggers. Neria didn't miss the fact he never dropped it, not even once. "I'm Hawke. Connor Hawke. This is my little brother. He's more like my sidekick really, but he wouldn't shut up to let him come."

"Hey!"

"What, it's true!"

"You're weird." Neria stated rather bluntly and Carver laughed at his brother as he visibly sagged.

"Bah, this world just isn't ready to stand my sheer level of badassery."

Neria couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped her lips. Connor's antics, even if slightly childish, all but made her forget about the reason for them meeting. However, she was still supposed to meet with the others in little time.

"Well, I have to meet with my fellow Warden recruits. Thanks again for helping me out." Neria said with a smile.

Connor gave her a roguish smirk as he waved at the mage. "Sure, sure. See ya later, oh great Warden!"

As soon as Neria was out of sight, Carver sent a meaningful stare at his older brother, who merely crossed his arms. "What?"

"You were flirting with her."

"Really? Wow, our parents should've named you Captain Obvious instead of Carver!"

"Don't mock me, dammit! I'm not a child you can pick on anymore. Do you have to flirt with every chick that catches your eye?"

Connor simply shrugged it off. "Well, what you want me to say? She's pretty good looking and I reckon she'd get more brownie points if she got rid of that ponytail."

"Ugh, keep your wet dreams to yourself! I just wish you'd stop poking your noses in other people's business. We always end in fights because of you."

"You're telling you'd have let that poor girl to her assaulters? For shame, Carver, I can barely look at you in the eyes. I can't find my little brother in you!"

"W-what?! Of course I wouldn't have! It's just… uh…" Carver then narrowed his eyes at his older brother. "You're downright infuriating, you know? You're doing this on purpose."

"Hell yeah."

"I… you… ugh!"

xxOOOOxx

Walking into the camp again, Neria smiled as she thought about Connor and Carver. They seemed alright but Connor was a little weird when he got all dramatic. Weird, but still alright. Thinking no more of it, she went to the place where Duncan told them to meet and saw that the others were already there. Ser Jory was pacing nervously, and Neria saw him say something. 'Surely, more whining' she thought with a bit of devilish malice. She chuckled inwardly and greeted the others when she arrived.

"Why all these damned tests? Have I not earned my place?"

"Maybe it's tradition. Maybe they're just trying to annoy you. If they are Grey Wardens, their secrets must be valuable enough not to let them be taken by undesirable individuals. And really, seeing you whine on and on makes me wonder what they saw in you."

"It's just that I'm nervous, that's all." Ser Jory replied with a glare at Daveth.

"Would you have come if they'd warned you? The Wardens do what they must, right? Whatever the cost." The rogue shrugged.

"Including sacrificing us? That's not what I expected." Ser Jory fired back with a raised eyebrow.

"I'd sacrifice a lot more if I knew it would end the Blight." Daveth replied with a serious expression. Neria, who heard it, felt her respect for the flirt rogue rise. "Maybe you'll die. Maybe we'll all die. But if nobody stops the darkspawn, we'll all die for sure. I'd rather die knowing that I had saved Ferelden than living a pathetic live on the run."

"I… I just never faced a foe I couldn't engage with my blade." The knight tried to defend himself.

"Then, perhaps you should go with the mabari. I'm sure you could have interesting conversations with them. You know what they say: birds of a feather flock together." Daveth mocked him with a grin

Alistair muttered a low, "Poor dogs, they won't know what hit them…" under his breath but Neria heard it and couldn't contain her laughter but tried not to laugh too loudly. Only Alistair saw it while Ser Jory and Daveth kept on bickering. Well, more like Ser Jory whining on and on and Daveth making fun of him for it. The junior Grey Warden flashed a smile at her as they watched from the sidelines how the others two fought, if that could be the word.

"Ah, they sure are lively. Shouldn't we stop them, though?" Alistair whispered to Neria but he looked at her seriously before letting out an amused, "Nah!", laughing with Neria at their bickering companions. After several minutes, they quieted and Alistair spoke again.

"I don't think we introduced to each other properly before. You know, what with that mage with a stick up his ass. Not that I think you're like him, of course!" He added quickly and Neria chuckled good naturedly at his embarrassment as Alistair smiled goofily. "I suppose Duncan already told you I'm just a junior Grey Warden. Just six months in the 'kill all darkspawn in sight' business but I'm getting there. Duncan recruited me in Redcliffe. He showed up in a good time, actually. I-" Alistair was suddenly stopped when Duncan appeared in sight walking towards them. Daveth and Jory saw him too and the two stopped their bickering immediately.

"It's time. At last, we come to the Joining." He went directly to a long stone table with a silver chalice on it. "The Grey Wardens were founded during the first Blight, when humanity stood at the verge of annihilation. So it was that the first Grey Wardens drank the darksapwn blood and mastered their taint." Duncan revealed with a soft voice.

Neria felt a chill ran down her spine. So that was the secret behind the Joining? Now the hints Duncan gave them made terrible sense. Neria realized that all the time Duncan spoke of the Joining's perils, he was saying that many hadn't survived… And with a shock, she understood that she really could die tonight, too. The realization of this almost paralyzed her with fear.

"We're… going the drink the blood of those… creatures?" Jory spoke, utterly terrified of the idea. Duncan nodded grimly.

"Indeed, just as the first Grey Wardens did before us. As we did before you. This is the source of our power and our victory." Duncan sighed, knowing what was lying ahead, but he pressed on. It was his duty, not only to Ferelden, but to Thedas as a whole.

Then Alistair spoke up. "Those who survive the Joining become inmune to the taint. We can sense it in the darkspawn and use it to slay the archdemon."

Duncan nodded to Alistair. "We speak only a few words prior to the Joining, but they have been said since the First Blight. Alistair, if you would?"

Said man nodded and bowing his head, spoke a grave and solemn speech. "Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten. And that one day, we shall join you."

"Let the Joining begin." Duncan spoke as he took the chalice of blood.

xxxOOOOxxx

Neria and Alistair joined Duncan near the stake, after meeting with King Cailan, his strategist advisor, Loghain, the reverend Mother and the head of mages. Suffice to say, it had been a long meeting. There had been an awful amount of shouts.

"In this battle, we put all our stakes. This is the battle where we'll decide the fate of Ferelden. Loghain will remain hidden with his men, waiting for the signal. We need the torch to be lit. You two will be the ones to do it. Cailan has asked specifically for you two to perform the task at hand." The Warden-Commander of Ferelden informed.

"What! I won't be at the main front?!" Alistair shouted. Duncan gave him a stern look.

"We need someone to do it, Alistair. I know you don't like it and frankly, neither do I. But it's a request from the King, you simply can't refuse."

"Grr. Fine, I get it. Just so you know, if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or not." Alistair warned with a straight face and Neria laughed at his remark.

"Now, that would something to see. A great distraction, I'm sure. I second the idea." She nodded with an amused idea grin.

"It'd have to be a pretty dress, though. Can't have me dancing classless." Alistair joked back.

Duncan couldn't help but sigh, a little annoyance slipping into his voice as he tiredly rubbed his forehead.

Seeing the gesture, Neria knew the time for jokes was over and decided to voice a little idea she had been pondering. "Duncan, we don't need to be specifically there. I could even light the torch with a fireball from the battlefield with ease. I just need to know where to fire at. Although I'm no master by any means, I know some healing spells and I'm sure we don't have mages to spare on the battlefield."

Unfortunately, Duncan didn't seem very pleased with her idea. "Neria,-" He began with a very big amount of patience in his voice, but Neria cut him off.

"Wait, Duncan. I know what you're going to say but I'm well aware of my abilities. I was Irving's golden student, remember?" She chuckled nervously. "Come on, Duncan. You know it's pointless to send a Grey Warden, not to say two, to light up a fire, we're kind of a big deal, aren't we?. Yes, it's a task of vital importance, but it seems disproportioned to me. Just send a squad of four men and it should be fine. I dunno, a warrior, an archer and a mage should do it just fine, no? I can still light the fire if they can't manage that." Neria smirked. Duncan sighed in defeat and she beamed internally.

"… Very well, we don't have time to argue about something like this. You both will fight in the battlefield. Stick close and keep an eye on each other. Neria, don't run out of magic too soon and administer your lyrium potions carefully. Alistair, look after her. Go to the east flank."

"Yes, Duncan!" Alistair and Neria exclaimed and they turned backs to leave but then Duncan's voice stopped them. "And Neria…?"

"Yes?"

Duncan's eyes were hard and then he spoke with a firm tone. Thankfully, he didn't seem overly angry, just annoyed. "We will talk about this after the battle. You must understand that, sometimes, the chain of command is something to be followed. No one can dismiss a King's orders like that." The mage gulped and nodded and hurried her pace to the battlefield, with the blond Warden walking behind her.

xxxOOOOxxx

"Wow, I can't believe it! You know he's going to get at you for this, right?" Alistair chuckled. "I wonder what the future generations of Grey Wardens will say about you… Perhaps something like 'Oh yes, Neria Surana, she was permanently placed as an errand boy because she mouthed off her superior on her first day being a Warden. Pity'". Alistair laughed.

"Oh alright, laugh at the rookie, will you?" Neria hissed sarcastically with a rising blush. What on hell had gotten into her when she had made that idea? Back then, it had seemed a fine option; now, not so much.

Alistair laughed amused at her embarrassment. "Oh, c'mon, I'm not gonna bite off your head. The darkspawn might, though, so keep it away from their jaws." Neria's face adopted an unhealthy shade of green, sickened by the thought. Alistair just chuckled at her. "At ease, soldier. We're between friends, aren't we?

"Hum, let me think… no?" Neria smirked when she saw Alistair pout.

"Ouch, now that hurt. You're so mean. I'm not that bad! Am I?" He complained and Neria chuckled.

"Perhaps…" Alistair cheered, "…or perhaps not." His shoulders slumped and she laughed heartily, clearly amused by his childish antics.

"I was wondering one thing, though." Alistair suddenly said as he adopted a thoughtful expression.

Neria smirked at him. "Just one?" She asked with awe slipping in her voice and Alistair narrowed his eyes playfully.

"Ha ha, Neria. Very funny, really." He mock glared at her.

"Of course it is. Anyway, what was crossing your amazing mind?" She asked with a snicker , which caused Alistair to snort but answered her nonetheless.

"Well, I was just wondering how you could come with such good balanced group between skills and weapons. I mean, not to offense but you're a mage, it's not like you've had training with weapons or strategies." He commented with fake nonchalance, trying to get under her skin but she dismissed it quickly.

"Oh, it was nothing, really. Back in the Tower I had an acquaintance who liked to read reports of ancient wars and he always liked to study the strategies and all that stuff. Don't know why, honestly. As you said, it's not like he would need it in his life." She shrugged. "However, it's not that difficult to figure it out, right? A warrior to attract the attention and hit hard, an archer for long range attacks and the mage as a support, while the rogue attacks them from behind. It's not that difficult, isn't it, Alistair?" Neria smirked and her tone had a slight mockery in it.

Alistair's face flushed with embarrassment, though he didn't exactly know why. "R-right, of course!"

"C'mon, we're wasting time here." Neria said as she idly twirled her wooden staff.

xxxOOOOxxx

The rain fell heavily on the ground, a storm having begun just minutes ago. Neria watched with barely hidden nervousness as the men in the front line prepared themselves, with Duncan and Cailan in sight. Well, you couldn't miss Cailan's armor after all, even if you wanted.

The army was set in a U shaped formation. Loghain's men were hiding in a small part of the western flank of the army. Nobody knew exactly where, though. They would expect the signal to launch an attack that, hopefully, would exterminate the darkspawn army, taking the advantage of surprise. The main force was in the northern flank, which would face directly the horde of darkspawn. The northern front was more backward than the others flanks so that when the darkspawn attacked, east and west flanks could surround them, trapping the beasts inside. Even so, the two sides had few men, as they had to remain hidden until the right time and even then, Loghain was the main reinforcement, with his veteran soldiers, many of which had fought during the rebellion to repel the Orlesian ocupation.

Neria had never participated in a war or in an ambush, not to say she hadn't even participated in a fight for that matter, but now she could feel clearly the nervousness and the anxiety of the waiting. And she could see the men's. She had grabbed her staff and begun to play with it nervously when Alistair put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head to look at him.

"We'll be fine, Neria. Trust me, I may be a junior Grey Warden, but I'm not a newbie when it comes to use the sword. I'll watch your back." The young blond man reassured her and she acknowledged his intention with a weak smile.

"It's not that I'm scared –well, that too-, but I hate this waiting. It's getting on my nerves. But thank you, Alistair."

He nodded. "Anytime, Neria." He missed the few words she muttered under her breath, something in the lines of being her first time being in a fight, not to mention it was a war…

Suddenly, the battlefield went silent and Neria could somwhow feel it. It was a prickling sensation as if she was at the point of feeling nausea but not completely… They were near. She glanced at Alistair who, noticing her gaze, nodded gravely. She grabbed forcibly the staff and surveyed the field. It was then when she saw them.

She had seen them before, of course, in the Korcari Wilds, but the sight of them reminded her of how ugly and twisted they were. Of course, she knew the history of the first darkspawn, well, at least, the Chantry's version, and even if she didn't buy it, she couldn't suppress a shiver of fear at the mere thought of being twisted to such lengths like them.

However, the tiny blond mage gasped as she started counting. There were so many of them! Thousands, perhaps even dozens of thousands! And they had to fight with that large army of corrupted beings? The whole idea seemed now ridiculous. She gulped. She had thought that leaving the Circle was the best course of action. Now… now she wasn't so sure about that.

The army of darkspawn was like a roaring mass of monsters that had a clear purpose. Ravage everything on its path. But a byproduct of their viciousness was the terryfinf feeling they brought with them. And they were having a damn good success at it. Some men were clearly frightened by them but the presence of Cailan shouting some encouraging words calmed them down. Not long after that, the darkspawn started to march towards them again.

Neria saw how one of the men step forward and raise an arm. He was the one to give the signal to the archers to open fire. He waited a few seconds and when he seemed to about to give the signal, Neria gasped as did the human army.

A spirit had appeared near Cailan in a flash of white.

xxxOOOOxxx

The first time I opened my eyes after the anomaly had finished its work, I wondered how I could have possibly left my prison. I was certainly in the real world again and for me to come back was something nigh impossible, after all. In theory, anyway. But maybe I had been mistaken. As mistaken as she had been, in any case. So, she was not as infallible as she liked to believe. Well, good to know anyway but the thought was useless in my situation. A small pulse of white energy made me look at me hands. They were white and transparent.

Ah, there was the catch. I couldn't be released physically, that much was certain, unless someone bothered to free me from the inside of my prison. However, whoever had gotten my spirit out of the Fade was certainly powerful, powerful enough to overcome the different barriers that would prevent something like this happening.

But then, who was the one responsible for my partial freedom? And better yet, why had they done it? What for? I couldn't help but have a bad feeling about it. However, my current surroundings caught my attention. Merely, the stench of blood.

I looked at the field and sniffed tentatively. The battlefield, for that was the place I was in, reeked of blood and it had been shed in large proportions. Perhaps that was the cause I was here. When some event was horrible, like a huge slaughter or a sorrow shared by an entire species, the Veil, that which separated the normal world from the Fade, would be torn apart. Those situations reverberated in the fabric of existence, like ripples formed by a rock dropped into the water. Eventually, those ripples reached the Fade. I guessed that was the reason I'm actually in the battlefield and not in my personal cage. In any case, a slaughter would be an adequate condition for the Veil to be torn apart.

Could it be that the prison had been weakening over time? No, no it couldn't be. It had held strong for such a long time… No matter how much the Veil was torn, I shouldn't have been able to leave the Fade otherwise. But perhaps the tearing of the Veil and the anomaly together…

However, that raised the question why I was the only spirit around. If the Veil was torn, there should be many more spirits mingling amongst the living, caught in whatever they saw.

Yet another mystery to add to the pile.

Something at my left caught my attention and I glanced at the man who was standing there. He was a tall, blond man. He was wearing a golden suit of armor and I blinked at the hideous choice of color. It was the least inconspicuous thing I had ever seen, like if he was screaming, 'Over here! I'm here! KILL ME!' The thought made me smile, although it was a little strained. It sure brought memories back… I resisted the urge to scoff at my own thoughts. Nonetheless, he would surely be someone important.

His eyes were swollen like a fish out of water but I detected a twinkle in them when he stared at me. I had seen that look many times. 'Another idealist full of dreams of greatness, it seems.' I chose to ignore the fact that once I had been like him, proclaiming I'd be the best shinobi of all.

I turned to face him and he managed to regain his composure, if only barely. "A-are you a spirit from the Fade?" He asked. I noticed how eager he was to know about this… situation we were in, even if his voice wavered a little. I wondered what I should say. The easy answer would have to suffix because we had a darkspawn army to slay. Oh, yes, I had noticed them. No time for niceties when duty calls, I'm afraid, I doubted they'd remain out of business for too much longer.

"Yes, I suppose we could say that. You're the general of these armies, right? Good, we don't have time, so I'll shorten the pleasantries. The Veil has been torn here and I was pulled her here for reasons I don't understand. However, there's no time for it. Since I'm already here, I will help you out with the darkspawn, but I don't know just how long I'll be able to stay. Let me strike first, but a word of advice: you and your men should retreat some meters away. My attacks tend to blow things up in the air." I explained and left without more comments.

I walked with a confident stride in my steps, all the men watching me in astounded silence. I assumed most of them hadn't seen a spirit before. It was lucky I had appeared with my old black hooded cloak. What can I say; I've always had a flare for dramatic entrances. Oh wait, I just remembered I don't have colors as a spirit, just that shitty spectral white that sends chills down the spine. Oh well, that would have to do.

The battlefield was silent as I approached the darkspawn army. I'm sure if any important painter saw this, the painting would be bloody epic. A single mysterious spirit against all the might of the darkspawn horde. Now, that's something.

I stood between the two armies and stared down at the soulless eyes of the darkspawn leader without blinking. After what seemed an eternity, he made a gurgling scream -or was it a laugh?- and they all rushed at me. I held my ground, opening my legs a bit wider to gain more stability.

The only good thing that came from my current situation was the fact that I didn't need handsigns to create my techniques. A body acted like a vessel for power but it needed a way to unleash it. Why have something like that when you were power itself, though? However, the fact that I was a bodiless apparition left me with less energy than what I was comfortable with. It would be a tricky thing but at least I'd be able to put a dent on their numbers.

I stood calmly as the vicious beasts ran at me. They were in for quite the surprise. Suddenly, a wild-looking dragon made entirely out of flames appeared between our positions and started wreaking havoc on the darkspawn army. Soon the disgusting smell of charred flesh filled the air but it was a much needed first warning. Even the lowliest of beasts feared fire when it proved harmful to them. Even though darkspawn were too mindless to flee, it could at least make them pause for a moment.

My next attach was actually a two-hits-combo, using the great conductivity of water to my advantage. The hearth split in several crevices as water poured out at great pressures all around the darkspawn army. Several of the water blasts caught a good number of them but it was the next attack the real knock-out. With a grin, I looked up as black clouds had finished their gathering and released several high-powered bolts of lightning upon the darkspawn. The fact they were wearing iron armor and were soaked proved their downfall.

It was not a battle. It was pure slaughter, unleashed without restrains on the darkspawn.

Good thing, too. I certainly did not want to get rusty with my abilities. Examining the battlefield, I allowed myself an easy grin. There had been more survivors than expected to my attacks but the once threatening army was now a pitiful thing.

Suddenly, a pain like no one I had felt before ran through me and left me breathless. I knew what that meant the very moment I felt it. Stupid of me to forget just where I was! Something or someone had noticed I was in the mortal plane and was trying to get me back to there… The Fade!No, I wouldn't allow it! She had something to do with that, I just knew it! THAT DAMNED WOMAN!

I tried to fight the sensation. It felt like it was ripping me apart and maintaining my manifestation was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life. Yet my efforts were useless, just like grasping at water. I knew it was of no use, but I couldn't give up. I JUST COULDN'T!

I was fading and I couldn't stop it! No! NO! Screaming like a wild beast, I fell to my knees. The force was now more insistent and my brain, or at least the part where it would be in my body, felt as if it was on fire. Stumbling, I approached the man in golden armor as fast as I could, breathing heavily. It was hard to remain as a whole and that was the first time I experienced this. I was dissipating at a pace speeding up at every second. There was not much more time left.

Another wave of pain made me bend in pain. It was, probably, the worst pain I ever felt.

xxxOOOOxxx

A chilling scream erupted from his mouth, reverberating in the cold, silent stone…

xxxOOOOxxx

I could feel everybody staring at me, wary and tense. I chuckled hoarsely. Yeah, definitely just like old times… I finally dragged myself to the spot where the man was standing but now he too was eyeing me suspiciously.

"Quick, we don't have time! I have wiped out almost –UGH!- all of them. I'm sure you can finish the ones who remain. I- GGH!- I'm vanishing from this plane, so I can't help you anymore!"

"But why?" He asked confused.

I couldn't help but snarl viciously. Was he stupid or what? "I already told you, dumbass! I'm vanishing and…!" I would have gone on, but the deep sound of a warhorn cut me off. My vanishing process forgotten, we both turned slowly to watch the darkspawn leader blowing the warhorn. Even in my state, I could tell that was bad news. Then, another army of darkspawn, this one consisting in Hurlocks and Ogres entirely, appeared from the Korcari Wilds.

And it was large. Twice larger than the one I had almost exterminated.

I looked at the blond man with a serious face though he couldn't see it with me hooded. The despair in his eyes was almost as much as the pain I was feeling. "I don't know your name, but I am sorry. I don't have much more time –few seconds, at best - and you're screwed. Royally screwed. Good luck, you'll need it." Those were my last words but in the last moments of my fading, something caught my senses. I saw a tiny female mage elf, staring at me –like the others, but still… - and for a brief moment we locked eyes. I narrowed my eyes. Something felt off with her… or was in her? I couldn't shake the feeling I should know just what was so strange about that particular elf but the pain was just almost too much to think on it focused. I didn't know how, but somehow… somehow I knew she and I would cross paths again. I didn't know what to make of my hunch.

And with such thoughts, I finally faded like wisps of smoke.

xxxOOOOxxx

Deep inside the Korcari Wilds, an old woman with brown clothes was rereading her grimoires when a sudden twitch in the threads of Reality made her snap up her head. She blinked, really surprised. She hadn't felt a twitch like that in many years. Soon, an amused smiled spread over her face.

"My, my, what's this? It would seem the chain of events has been changed. How interesting… How interesting, indeed. We shall see how it evolves. Indeed, we shall…" She chuckled knowingly and returned to her tomes of arcane spells.

Things had just gotten much more interesting...

She never noticed the figure high up in the trees, staring down at her with pursed lips. Moments later, the figure simply vanished from view, as if it had never been there.

[24/0/14]: So this is the rewrite I was speaking about in Ch. 7. Several hints for future plotlines have been added and overall, the quality of the chapter has been improved. At least, I'd like to think so.

Hey everyone! Hope you enjoyed this new chapter and I get more reviews to satiate my thirst! Anyway, from now on, DA:O's storyline begins to diverge. Of course, changes will still be small but they will increase in consequences. I apologize for an almost-canon chapter if anyone's pissed off by that, but as it stands, I really couldn't get around Ostagar without changing it too much.

So, that's it. I hope you like the idea. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

Nothing more, see you next time, guys!